[mrusk]

I got a proablem. I am way short of help. I am having a very hard time finding qualified help. Right now i have 2 guys. I had 2 college kids working with me, but they went back to school last week. I used to send my 2 legal spanish guys to one job and i'd take the college kids and go to another. Now with them gone, things are hectick and i go home every night with a headache.

I realisticly need another formen and 3 more labors with some experience. I ran a add in the news paper the last week and i am EXTREMLY DISPOINTED with the response. I guess the must have DL AND PASS DRUG TEST scared everyone off.

I know all the larger companies use the H2B program to get guys. I am interested in this for next year. I was wondering if anyone ever used it or knew anything about it?

Or if you have any tips of finding decided workers let me know. Unless i find the guys i need i see a real proablem with expansion.

Matt

[Lanelle]

Yes we do use H2B. It is a pretty big commitment to implement. You have to provide the workers with trip to/from Mexico, housing, transportation to/from work and to get necessities and pay them according to the program guidelines. It works better if you have seasoned, full time employees who are speak Spanish and are familiar with the culture. The process is often done by a person who specializes in this. There is also quite a bit of lead time needed to meet all of the requirements and deadlines.

[Mac]

Matt, your last sentance about sums up every business. Growing is pointless unless you have quality employees to produce that work.

I hate to be a "debby downer" but I believe I got an email saying the h2b program cap has been met already for this coming season. This is litterally something you have to plan for almost a year in advance.

[E-JAM]

Hi,

I Just saw your post on H2B workers and I work with an agency in Jamaica who recruits seasonal workers to work in the U.S.A.

The honest truth is it will cost you a lot of money to get a get a few workers so it is mainly big companies that uses H2B workers.

I suggest that if is only a few workers you need, you should try and use local workers because it will cost from $1,700 up for each workers.

[prapoza]

I know $1700/employee sounds like a lot of $$. But it's really nothing for someone who shows up everyday for a whole season, works hard, doesn't complain, appreciates being paid 8-12 bucks per hour. We started using some H2B guys three years ago and WOW what a difference. No more guy taking the day off because he had a tummy ache or had to take his girlfriend to the dentist or scratch her itchy back. Most, not all, guys born in the US are useless as landscape labor. The last year we used local guys exclusively I spent $3500 on help wanted ads and you should have seen the riff-raff I got coming in to interview. We didn't hire one guy, $3500 down the toilet.
The H2B guys have their problems too but it's different mostly drama between themselves. You can count on them showing up and working everyday without fail.
Good luck!

[AZTLANLC]

H2b program is great if you can get them,
I have tried for 3 season to bring employees this route with no sucess since the cap is a joke is more like buying a lottery ticket and hope yours is the winner

[E-JAM]

I agree the whole system is a joke. I am at work now and receiving a lot of calls from H2B employers who did not make the cap. They can use H2R'S, These are returnees and the cap do not affect them but the Bill still hasn't been past to allow these workers to return so many employers are worried. They are loosing monies and the Government is just standing by doing nothing. We have a lot of various workers in Jamaica ready to be place on jobs but our hands are tied.

You can use the J1 workers, these do not need a petition only DS-2019 form and you can have them all year round. To qualify the need to have 5 years working experince or a Bachelor or Associates degree in the related field.

My advice is in order to obtain your H2B petition you must apply early using the premium service.